Label picker apparatus



1954 M. H. SCHIEMEL ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS M W7% BYWMM MMW y 1954 M. H. SCHIEMEL 5% AL 2,683,548 7 LABEL PICKERAPPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DYZZorney y 1954 M. H.SCHIEMEL ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 July 13, 1954M, sc ET AL 2,683,548

LABEL PICKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 7 I!INZ'EIYTOR? BY A W 62.2%" 14 M4 jtt'orney Patented July 13, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE LABEL PICKER APPARATUS of Wisconsin ApplicationFebruary 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,162

3 Claims.

This invention relates to label applying apparatus, more particularly ofthe type utilizing socalled pickers to which individual labels aretransferred with the aid of adhesive so as to be carried into contactwith packages to which the labels are applied, and it resides in animproved form of such apparatus which employs supplementary pickerelements positioned to perform an adhesive applying function at thepoint of transfer of a label to the pickers and mounted to travel a pathof movement departing from the path pursued by the main picker elementsso as to permit application of adhesive to label areas within the marginthereof.

In label applying machines utilizing pre-cut stacked labels which aretransferred by adhesive bearing pickers to the package, the adhesive hasheretofore been applied to the margins at either side of the label,since the pickers must be bifurcated to straddle the package to whichthe label is to be applied. The pickers and label are not freed from oneanother until the package moving between the bifurcations of the pickerscauses the transfer of the label to occur. As a result adhesive may beapplied only to side marginal portions of the labels.

Application of adhesive to side marginal portions only considerablyrestricts the possible variation in label configurations. Edges andcorners that would tend to curl or drift from the surface of the packagein the absence of adhesive contact therewith cannot be employed. Theresulting limitations restrict label configurations to basicallyrectangular outlines or those having adhesive contact at margin areaswhich lie above and below the remaining label areas. Thus variation oflabel ornamentation through the employment of pendants or other centralprojections is precluded.

It is an object of this invention to provide a label applying apparatusthat will apply adhesive to any desired portion of a label includingthose portions which are carried during the applying movement through apath which intersects the outline of the package, thus rendering itfeasible to employ label configurations including pendants or otheroutline variations without decrease in output of high speed packagingprocesses.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in combination withmain picker elements a supplementary picker that travels a path ofaction which would intersect the package outline but which is deflectedfrom this path so as to clear the package during the applying movementof the main picker elements.

Cii

These and other objects will appear in the description to follow. In thedescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration and notof limitation one form of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a label applying apparatusembodying this invention with parts of the adhesive fountain brokenaway,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation and in section of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1 viewed through the plane 2-2,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view in elevation and in section similar tothat of Fig. 2 with the picker blades in a raised position receiving alabel from the label supply,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the picker assembly ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. l with a package (bottle) moving towardlabel receiving position and a second bottle in phantom shown shortlyafter receiving labels,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the rear of the pickerblades and supplementary picker of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in theposition assumed at the outset of deflection of the supplementarypicker, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the same parts of theapparatus with the supplementary picker fully deflected.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a label applyingapparatus of the rotatable work carrier type which has a base i fromwhich rises a pedestal 2 that serves as the main support for theapparatus. Extending upwardly from the pedestal 2 and housing the maindrive shaft, which is not shown, is a column 3. A mounting platform 4extends from the left of the column 3 to serve as a support for a motor5 and a gear reducer 6 that provide a source of power for the apparatus.At the base of the column 3 and concentric therewith is a circular worktable rotatably mounted on the pedestal 2 and suitably connected to themain drive shaft housed within the column 3.

The table 7 provides means for advancement of packages (in the presentinstance bottles) to which labels are to be afilxed. Other well knownconveying means for the packages may be employed in conjunction withthis invention, since this invention relates particularly to the labelapplying part of the apparatus which may be served with various forms ofconveying means. In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the rotatabletable 7 acts as a base support and conveying means for bottles 8, whichmay be loaded and unload-ed at predetermined points by means not shown.Affixed to the table I are bottle rests 9 that guide and sup-port thebottles 8 in an upright position. Also carried by the table I is aplurality of retaining fingers lil provided with means not shown,enclosed Within the housing 12, causing the fingers ID to swing towardand away from the bottles 8 in guide slots H in the table 1. Theswinging action of the fingers Iii is suitably timed with respect to theangular position of the table I.

Extending obliquely upwardly from the pedestal 2 to a point ofjuncture'with the periphery'of the circular housing l2 and thencevertically is a support l3. Formed as an integral portion of the supportit is a boss i4 housing a bearing providing a journal-ed support for oneend of trun nion shaft 54. Extending outwardly from the column 3 and inradial alignment with the support is is a bearing support -I5terminating in "a'boss l6. Journaled within a bearing provided in theboss i5 is the opposite end of trunnion shaft 56. A. generallycylindrical picker support 11 is mounted on the trunnion shaft 54 and isprovided with arms l8 to which are adjustably bolted two co-planarpick-er blades 19 and 2G. The profile, as shown in Fig. 1, of the bladesi9 and 2B closely follows the shape of the bottles '8, and when indownwardly extending position the blades is and 26 straddle the path ofadvancement of the bottlesfi. Cutouts 21 are provided in the blades l9and to eliminate contacting interference upon approachof the blades 18and 29 to the label supply holders to be hereinafter described.

Referring now more particularlyto Figs. 2 and 5,'there are shown twobrackets '22 and 23 riveted to .the'back of the picker'blade 20, thesame be- .ing spaced from one another to accommodate and to provideainountingfor a supplementary picker support arm .24 positionedtherebetween. A pin 25.11aving an extended shank passes through the'rearwardly extending flanges of the brackets 22 and '23 and through thesupplementary picker support arm 26 so as to pivotally mount the arm 26.Attached to one endofthe arm 2 5 is a spotter picker 26 having a surface21 that provides an -area supplementary to the surfaces of the pickerblades i9 and 20. At'the opposite end of the arm 2e is a cam followerroller 28 mounted with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the arm 24.

Surrounding the dependingshank of pin is a helical torsion spring 29having one end fastened to picker arm .26 and the opposite end tothe-picker arm 24 at the point 3% so as to urge the picker arm 2 to theposition shown in Fig. 3. Upon assumption .of this position the surface2'! is substantiallycmplanar with the label engaging surfaces of thepicker blades ii? and 22') ina position midway between the same.

Bolted to the support arm 13 is .a mounting strap 3| which prov-ides amounting for a cam rail 32. The position of the rail '32 and itsengaging surface 3 may be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 33 toensure proper engagement with the roller '28 upon downward movement ofthe picker blades I9 and 20.

Integrally joined with and extending radially .'from the rotatablecylindrical picker support IT is a cam follower support boss from whichexthe upright column 3 and is mounted in driven relationship to the maindrive shaft housed within the column 3 so as to rotate in timedrelationship to movement of the table 7.

Two horizontal spaced rods 46 and l are fixed at one end respectively tothe housing 39 and the top of the Support arm :3. Slidably mounted onthe rods 50, i! is a label supply holder frame 52. The frame i2 hasvertical label holder stays 43 fixed thereto to form magazines for thesupport of supplies of chevron shaped neci: labels M and larger bodylabels ihe stays .3 are turned inwardly at their lower ends to retainthe label supplies against downward movement but to permit'labelsto bewithdrawn one at a time from the bottoms of the magazines.

With the picker blade [9 and 29 in vertical position, as is shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the cam follower rollers 35 will be at its greatestupward extent of travel as is dictated by the cam 31. As

the cam 23'! rotates from this position the roller picker blades iii and29 in an arc toward the supply of .labels i l. As the blades l9 and 20initially move upwardly the roller 28 engages and bears against thesurface 34 and the arm 24 and its spotter picker 25 is held deflectedaway from the path of advancement of the bottles 3. As the picker bladesl9 and .29 move further above the path of movement of the bottles theroller 28 departs from the surface 34 and the arm Z-t rotates about thepin 25 until the surface 2? of the spotter picker 28 reaches a positionsubstantially co-planar with the label receiving surfaces of the bladesi9 and 29.

An adhesive supply tank 45 is mounted upon a shelf 45. Journaled in theend plates of the tank 45 is. a partially submerged fountain roll 47which is rotated to lift a supply of liquid adhesive 158. A-swingingfountainroll 49 is rotatably mounted on a-shaft 58 carried in turn onthe lower end of an arm 5!. The arm 5! is joined at its opposite end toa shaft 52 extending from the housing 39. Suitable connection betweenthe shaft 52 and the drive shaft within the column but not shown, causesa reciprocating movement to be imparted in time with movement of theblades 19 and 2B. This reciprocating movement during downward travel ofthe picker blades :9 and 28 carries the roller 49 from the positionshown in Fig. 3, where it receives adhesive from the roll 41, to thatshown in Fig. 2 where it is prepared to engage and roll across theadhesive receiving surfaces of picker blades is and 23 in their upwardtravel after roller 23 has disengaged from cam surface 34. Adhesive isthus applied to the surface 2? simultaneously with application ofadhesive to the surfaces of blades is and All.

After applications of adhesive to the surface 21 and the blades 19 and26 the roller moves away from the ends of blades i9 and 28 to permitaccess to the magazines formed by the stays 53. At the upward limitoftravel of the blades [9 and '29, as shown in Fig. 3, a neck label it anda body label 55 are transferred to the picker assembly. The transfer isinduced by the adhesive on the picker surfaces and the impact of thepicker surfaces in meeting the labels which impact enhances the actionof the adhesive. The larger body labels 55 are of rectangularconfiguration and are engaged at the side marginal areas only. Adhesiveapplied by the roll =39 to the blades 19 and His in turntransferred tothe body labels 55 at the side marginal areas which is 5 sufiicient formaintaining the entire label against the bottle 8. The configuration ofthe neck labels 44 on the other hand is such that the central portionswill curl if adhesive is applied only at the side margins. It is thiscentral portion which is engaged by the spotter picker 26.

In response to the cam 31 the picker assembly then reverses directionand commences a downward movement, The spotter picker 26 positionedbetween the blades l9 and 20 will travel a vertical circular path whichif continued would intersect and collide with the bottle 8 to which thelabel is to be transferred. To permit continued movement of the bottle 8and the picker assembly the picker 26 is deflected from this circularpath. This deflection is accomplished by engagement of the roller 28with the cam surface 3d. The roller 23 is then caused to lag behind theswinging picker assembly and the spotter picker 25 is accelerated inrelation to the blades i9 and 25, moving in advance and laterallythereof. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the spotter picker 2& departs fromadhesive contact with the central portion of the neck label 3 leaving anadhesive coat 53' on the central label portion that first engages thebottle 8. The ensuing acceleration of the spotter picker 26 laterally inadvance of the movement of the blades [9 and 2B removes the picker 2%from a collision path with the bottle 8 to the position shown in Fig. 6as previously described.

Further travel of the blades l9 and 20 brings them into alignment withthe bottle 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the labels are strippedtherefrom by the motion of the bottle 3. As the label moves into contactwith the bottle 8 a finger grip l9 swings outwardly toward the bottle 8and presses the label against the bottle as shown. Rotation of the table'7 continues to advance the bottle 8 and the finger it! to the next workposition, as shown in phantom in Fig. 4. In succeeding work positionsthe label is wiped about the bottle 8 in known manner.

The extent of the label area to which adhesive may be applied by asimple bifurcated picker surface in an apparatus that relies on thestripping of the label from the picker by package intervention isrelatively small and is restricted to side marginal areas only. As hasbeen noted labels which will be retained smoothly against the bottlesurface are limited to those having certain configurations if adhesiveis applied only to side marginal portions. Centrally disposedprojections in the label if left free of adhesive will curl or bend awayfrom the bottle in an unsightly manner. By the use of this inventionadhesive may be applied to any desired portion of a label whether or notthe desired portion is carried through a path that intersects packageposition and this is accomplished in this invention by means whichneither hinder nor delay the operation of high speed packagingequipment.

We claim:

1. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising conveyingmeans for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spacedrelation; a pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar pickersurface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support la -sextending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact withlabel margins, said picker blades being reciprocably mounted formovement substantially within a path of action confined to a singleplane between a label picking position in which a label is transferredto said picker surfaces and a label applying position wherein a packagesuccessively advanced by said conveying means will intervene betweensaid blades and penetrate the plane of said picker surface areas byrelative motion between the package and said picker blades wherein thepicker blades pass toward and beyond label receiving surface areas ofsaid package; a supplementary picker lever mounted on one of saidpickers having a supplementary picker end with surface area portionsnormally disposed between said pickers in a position substantiallyco-planar with and longitudinally to one side of said picker surfaceareas and the gap therebetween, and a deflecting end positioned outsidethe area intermediary and swept by said pickers; a bias means engagingand biasing said lever to said normal position; and a deflecting memberpositioned to be engaged by said deflecting end of said lever uponmovement of said picker blades to label applying position to deflectsaid supplementary picker end from said normal position first in thedirection of movement of said picker blades and then to the side of thearea intermediary and swept by said picker blades to a position free ofinterference with a package intervening between said blades.

2. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising a conveyingmeans for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spacedrelation; a pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar pickersurface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support labelsextending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact withlabel margins, said picker blades being pivotally mounted forreciprocable movement between a label picking position in which a labelis transferred to said picker surfaces and a label applying positionwherein a package successively advanced by said conveying means willintervene between said blades and penetrate the plane of said pickersurface areas by relative motion between the package and said pickerblades wherein the picker blades pass toward and beyond label receivingsurface areas of said package, a supplementary picker lever pivotallymounted on one of said pickers for movement about an axis normal to theaxis of pivot of said picker blades having a supplementary picker endwith surface area portions normally disposed between said pickers in aposition substantially co-planar with and longitudinally to one side ofsaid picker surface areas and the gap therebetween, and a defleeting endpositioned outside the area intermediary and swept by said pickers; abias means engaging and biasing said lever to said normal position; anda deflecting member positioned to be engaged by said deflecting end ofsaid lever upon movement of said picker blades to label applyingposition to deflect said supplementary picker end from said normalposition first in the direction of movement of said picker blades andthen to the side of the area intermediary and swept by said pickerblades to a position free of interference with a package interveningbetween said blades.

3. In a label applying apparatus the combination comprising a conveyingmeans for successively advancing a series of packages in guided spacedrelation, 2. pair of picker blades having substantially co-planar pickersurface areas separated by a transverse gap adapted to support labelsextending between said picker surface areas by adhesive contact withlabel margins, said picker blades being reciprocably mounted formovement between a label picking position in which a label istransferred to said picker surfaces and a label applying positionwherein a package successively advanced by said conveying means willintervene between said blades and penetrate the plane of said pickersurface areas by relative motion between the package and said pickerblades wherein the picker blades pass toward and beyond label receivingsurface areas of said package; a supplementary picker lever mounted onone of said pickers having a supplementary picker end with surface areaportions normally disposed between said pickers in a positionsubstantially co-planar with and longitudinally to one side of saidpicker surface areas and the gap therebetween, and a deflecting endpositioned outside the area between said pickers and penetrated by apackage; and lever operating means cooperatively engageable with saidlever deflectingend adapted to move said lever to normal position uponmovement of said picker blades to label receiving position and to movesaid deflecting end relative to said pickers, upon movement of saidpicker blades to said label applying position, to deflect saidsupplementary picker end from said normal position first in thedirection of movement of said picker blades, and then to the side of thearea intermediary and swept by said picker blades to a position free ofinterference with a package intervening between said blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,521,662 Williams Jan. 6, 1925 1,641,045 Oslund et a1 Aug.30, 1927 1,940,011 Oslund Dec. 19; 1933

